News bites: Climate professor sues think tank, National Review

A Penn State University climate professor is suing the National Review and a conservative think tank for comparing his climate change research to convicted sex abuser and former Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky, according to The Washington Post.

Michael Mann, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, cites libel and intentional infliction of emotional distress for linking his work to Sandusky. 

The Competitive Enterprise Institute accused Mann of “molesting data” about global warming, drawing a comparison to Sandusky. National Review linked to the story and commented that while the Sandusky comparison might have gone too far, the think tank "has a point" about Mann's research. 

Earlier this month, Sandusky was sentenced to up to 60 years for sexually abusing children.

The New York Times takes a look at different ways to drive investment into a clean energy sector that could need a post-stimulus spark.

The Times also discusses how the “drill, baby, drill” slogan from the 2008 presidential campaign continues to frame discussions about energy policy in this year's race. 

Exporting natural gas is creating new economic and geopolitical realities for the United States and the rest of the historically fragmented global natural gas market, notes the Times.

Federal regulators have granted the most permits for new deepwater drilling wells in the Gulf of Mexico since 2007, according to The Times-Picayune of New Orleans.